Gov. Abbott Issues A Proclamation For Port Aransas Independent School District

Facilities within the boundaries of Port Aransas Independent School District are inaccessible and unusable for conducting district business that is accessible by the public.

A disaster proclamation was issued on Wednesday, August 23, 2017, certifying that Tropical Depression Harvey posed a threat of imminent disaster in specified counties in Texas including the County of Aransas; and

Tropical Depression Harvey was upgraded to a hurricane which struck the Texas coast on Friday, August 25, 2017, causing substantial destruction in South, East and Central Texas; and

Facilities within the boundaries of Port Aransas Independent School District are inaccessible and unusable for conducting district business that is accessible by the public.

The board of trustees of the Port Aransas Independent School District must meet to approve a budget for the district prior to August 31, 2017, in order to ensure the continued education of the district’s students in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.

Damage caused by Hurricane Harvey has rendered the board of trustees of the district physically incapable of conducting a telephonic meeting located within the district between now and August 31, 2017; and

It is in the public interest that a duly adopted budget and other important business of the district be conducted in a timely manner that promotes public access to the greatest extent possible during the disaster caused by Hurricane Harvey;

NOW THEREFORE, I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of the State of Texas, pursuant to the authority vested in me by section 418.016 of the Texas Government Code, hereby suspend Section 26.007(b) of the Texas Education Code and Section 551.125(d) of the Texas Government Code for the limited purpose of allowing the board of trustees of Port Aransas Independent School District to hold a telephonic meeting within a reasonable distance of the district on or before August 31, 2017.

In accordance with the statutory requirements, copies of this proclamation shall be filed with the applicable authorities.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 29th day of August, 2017.

GREG ABBOTT
Governor